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Alfredsson, Heatley propel Senators to win

Oct 5, 2007 - 4:29 AM By Bill Carroll PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Daniel Alfredsson scored two goals, including the go-ahead tally with 4:59 remaining in the third period, and Dany Heatley added a goal and an assist to power the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

With the game tied at 2-2 and Ottawa on the power play, the Senators captain wristed a shot from the left faceoff circle that sailed over the right shoulder of goaltender Vesa Toskala to break the deadlock.

Alfredsson opened the scoring at 8:18 of the first period, when he wristed a shot high to the glove side of Toskala, who made his first start as a Maple Leaf. Heatley, who signed a six-year, $45 million contract Wednesday, sent a cross-slot pass to Alfredsson, who buried the puck from the right circle.

Alfredsson's game-winner was the 50th of his career.

"I tried to get into position for a one-timer, but I got it on my backhand," Alfredsson said. "We were 2-on-1 in front, so when we pulled out, their defense had to make a decision, and he went down and covered Dany. I didn't have much to shoot at, but I was able to fit it in the corner."

At 13:06 of the second period, Heatley redirected center Jason Spezza's centering pass with his right skate, although Toskala appeared to kick away the puck with his left pad. Play continued for another 67 seconds before Ottawa asked for a review, which confirmed that the puck clearly had crossed the goal line, increasing the lead to 2-0.

"I thought it might have gone in," Heatley said. "I didn't see it cross the line, but because his pad was so far in the net, I thought it had a chance. We'll take it. I wasn't surprised, but I was more concerned they might call it a kick. I was pretty confident I had just directed it in. That's legal now, so we'll count it."

Finding the net is nothing new for Heatley against Toronto, as the 26-year-old has netted 23 vs. Ottawa's provincial rival. In this home-and-home stretch to open the season against the Maple Leafs, Heatley already has notched five points.

Toronto promptly replied with two goals to even the contest.

Defenseman Hal Gill sent a floater from the left point that was knocked down into the crease by Jason Blake. Sundin slid the puck past Martin Gerber before the goalie was able to corral it at 15:44.

The goal was the 389th as a Maple Leaf for Sundin, tying him with Darryl Sittler for first place on the franchise list.

"I'll take a goal any time," Sundin said. "Obviously, I would have preferred to score at home. It's better it's done early and out of the way. The last thing we need is distractions if we want to go forward and win some hockey games."

Matt Stajan posted his second tally in as many games just 32 seconds later. After backhanding the puck out of mid-air off the right post and through the crease, Stajan circled the net and slid it by Gerber for the equalizer.

Playing in place of the injured Ray Emery, Martin Gerber made 41 saves for Ottawa in improving to 16-0-2 in his last 18 starts.

Gerber's best save of the night came during a penalty kill three minutes into the second period, when he deftly caught a redirection from the slot by Toronto captain Mats Sundin.

"(Toronto) had some momentum in the second where they got a couple of weird bounces," Gerber said. "Toronto's always tough because they put a lot of pucks at the net. They try to get deflections and screen shots, so that's the hardest thing about them."

Toskala was equal to the task in his debut with Toronto as he robbed Ottawa rookie Nick Foligno as he lay prone by the left goalpost with nine minutes left in the middle session.

"None of the goals he really could have done anything about, really," Sundin said of Toskala. "He made a couple of great saves where Ottawa maybe should have had a goal. I thought he had a strong game."

Toronto had a goal disallowed by referee Chris Rooney midway through the game, which would have forged a 1-1 tie. Blake stormed down the right side before firing the puck at Gerber, and Alex Steen then poked it over the goal line as Blake stood over the goaltender.

"I don't understand what happened there," Blake said. "I saw Gerber going low, so I tried to beat him high. Gerber made a good save and I was just trying to get out of the way. I don't know why they disallowed the goal."

"The referee didn't tell me anything about the play, but the way I saw it was, (Blake) went for it and kept going," Gerber said. "He pushed at me, so it was the right call."

Ottawa went 2-for-10 on the power play, while Toronto finished 0-for-7.

"It's still not quite there yet," Alfredsson said of Ottawa's special teams. "Our penalty-killing is getting better and better every year."